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1964 Aston Martin DB5

The post-War Aston Martin evolution grew by leaps-and-bound in 1958 with the launch of the DB4. The Touring-designed body would establish a recognizable appearance that would continue in various forms until 1970. The DB4 was launched in October of 1958 and was a major turning point for Aston Martin as it was the first car of the David Brown era which neither used an engine co-designed by W. O. Bentley nor a chassis derived from the experimental Atom of 1939. This was also the first Aston Martin to wear Carrozzeria Touring's 'Superleggera' bodywork, which had light alloy panels fixed to a supporting framework of light-gauge steel tubes.

Aston Martin built the DB4 under license by Touring at their Newport Pagnell facility. When introduced, the DB4 was Britain's most powerful and fastest production car.

It was determined that the Touring Superleggera body construction was incompatible with the DB2/4-type multi-tubular spaceframe. Engineer Harold Beach was tasked with creating a new platform-type chassis. The trailing-link independent front suspension found in the DB2/4 was replaced by unequal-length wishbones. The back received a live axle located by a Watts linkage instead of its predecessor's Panhard rod. The DB4 was also the first of the DB models to receive an entirely new engine. Designed by Tadek Marek, the engine had first been used at LeMans the previous year in the DBR2. Marek had joined Aston Martin in 1954, and the engine he designed was an all-alloy, twin overhead-camshaft six-cylinder unit with a 3,670cc displacement that featured 'square' bore and stroke dimensions of 92mm. The engine was mated to a new David Brown four-speed all-synchromesh unit.

The Aston Martin DB5 was introduced in July of 1963. Much of the Aston Martin DB5's legacy and popularity was generated by its cinematic association with secret agent 007 in the Goldfinger movie. It would appear in no fewer than five movies of the series. James Bond DB5 was equipped with rocket launchers and sundry other gadgets - features that were not on the standard equipment list for Aston Martin. 007's DB5 was finished in Silver Birch with a red interior.

Production of the DB5 lasted from 1963 to 1965 with just 1,021 examples built. The exterior was clothed by Touring of Milan with their Superleggera coachwork, which Aston Martin produced under license at their Newport-Pagnell factory, using the Milanese coachbuilder's technique of superforming alloy panels around a steel tube frame. The bodywork was first seen in the DB4 of 1958, and it was steadily refined through five different series of DB4 development, including an overall lengthening of the body in the fifth series, which essentially became the foundation for the DB5.

Powering the DB5 was an evolution of the DB4's inline six-cylinder motor, which acclaimed Polish engineer Tadek Marek had originally designed for the company's racing program. Displacement grew to 3,995-cubic centimeters in displacement and was fed by three SU carburetors. This setup was first seen in the special-series engines of the Vantage-specification DB4 cars and the Lagonda Rapide of 1961. The engine provided 282 horsepower and gave the car a top speed of 140 mph.

During the DB5 production, there was a short run of convertible versions that ran in four discrete series. The famed Volante nomenclature would arrive a little later with the DB6. Just 123 examples of the convertible DB5 were built. Independent coachbuilder Harold Radford also offered a shooting brake conversion (12 examples were built).

The cowled headlamps first appeared on the DB4GT and its size was the same as the lengthened, 'Series V' DB4. On the exterior, there was little to distinguish the DB5 from the last of the DB4s apart from twin fuel filler caps, though these had already appeared on some cars. Most of the changes and enhancements had occurred beneath the skin, including the engine, alternator electrics, Girling disc brakes instead of Dunlops, Sundym glass, electric windows, and an oil pressure gauge as standard equipment.

Beginning in September of 1964, the triple-Weber Vantage engine became available and offered 314 horsepower; a total of 95 cars were fitted with this setup.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Touring
Chassis number: DB5/1469/L
Engine number: 400/1446

The Aston Martin DB5 played an important role in the James Bond movie, Goldfinger, and instantly captured the hearts and imagination of enthusiasts everywhere.

The DB5 was introduced in 1963 and featured the sporting qualities of the DB-series cars that came before it. The DB5 represented the culmination of nearly a decade of continual improvement based on knowledge and experience gained on both road and track.

Power was from a dual-overhead cam six-cylinder engine that now measured 243.7 cubic inches. Horsepower was rated at 282 HP in standard guise and 325 HP for the Vantage option, which became available by fall of 1964. The early DB5s were offered with several engine options including a standard four-speed unit, a four-speed with overdrive, a ZF five-speed, or an automatic. By mid-1964, the four-speed overdrive was no longer available and the five-speed manual became standard. The fifth gear was an overdrive ratio.

The DB5 was available as a coupe or convertible, with coachwork for both body styles handled by Touring in Italy, using the Superleggera design technique introduced with the prior DB4 model.

This example, chassis number DB5/1469/L, was ordered on February 29th of 1964 by Garage Hubert Patthey. It was built to the strict specifications of Eugene Schneuwly, a resident of Granges-Paccot, Switzerland. It was designed for continental use and given a 3.77:1 rear axle, chrome wheels, Dunlop RS5 tires, instrumentation in kilometers, Bray immersion heater, Motorola radio and a detachable passenger headrest. The car was finished in Sierra blue with gray Connolly leather hides. It is a left-hand-drive example that was fitted with an Ace number plate lettered 'DB5/1964' and delivered to its first owner on June 25th of 1964. It remained in Switzerland for a number of years, later appearing at E. Ritter Garage of Efingerstrasse 79 in Basel

In 1999, it was sold to Dutch art dealer and auto enthusiast Robert Noortman. Mr. Noortman retained the car for five years during which time he refurbished the gearbox, rear axle and braking system.

In February of 2004, it was sold to a California resident and has remained in the US ever since. In June of 2011, it was treated to $60,000 worth of mechanical work.

The car has a tool kit, an instrument book and a copy of the factory build record. It has the correct, matching numbers engine and original data tags.

The 3995cc dual-overhead cam alloy inline six-cylinder engine has triple SU HD 8 carburetors and produces 282 horsepower. There is a 5-speed ZF manual gearbox and 4-wheel servo-assisted Girling disc brakes.

In 2012, this car was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, California. It was estimated to sell for $750,000 - $850,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $748,000, including buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible Coupe by Touring

The DB5 differed only slightly from the last DB4, the Series 5 Vantage. Faired in headlights and the enlarged 4.0-liter, triple carburetor engine was standard. Just 123 DB5 convertibles were built during 1963 to 1964. They were slightly heavier than the previous DB4 due to standard electric windows and other features, including a five-speed gearbox.

Coupe by Touring
Chassis number: DB51395L

When post-WWII bespectacled British industrialist David Brown, a farm tractor manufacturer among other activities, bought Aston Martin he made all the subsequent cars 'DB'. The world was just getting used to being wowed by the DB5's predecessor, the DB4; a valid competitor to Ferrari (and to some extent, Jaguar) on the world stage with enough street and track cred to worry the Italians. Then James Bond took on a DB5 as his daily driver and Aston Martin finally made it. The DB5 uses a Tadek Marek designed 4-liter twin-cam straight 6 with just over 280 horsepower and typically a 5-speed from the German ZF company, or Borg Warner automatic. Just over 1000 cars were built between 1963 and 1965.

Convertible Coupe by Touring

This original Vantage spec convertible was sold new in England. It was purchased by the current owner in 2001 that then had it restored by Automotive Restoration Inc. It won the Aston Martin Owner's Club National Medal in 2005.

Coupe by Touring
Chassis number: DB5/1533/R
Engine number: DB5/1533/R

1 of 898 Coupes Built. This car was restored to AMOC Concours condition and is in excellent condition. The DB5 engine was increased to 3995cc by boring out the cylinders to 96mm. With three SU carburetors this combination gave an output of 282 bhp. With the new exterior look, which is a carry over from the late series 5 DB4, gave the car a much sleeker appearance. Sloping front fender and covered headlamps gave Aston Martin a whole new look. With its star status roles in the James Bond movies, the DB5 has become the most sought after of all the late DB.

by Blackhawk Collection

by Aston Martin

Coupe by Touring
Chassis number: DB5/1499/R
Engine number: 400/1489

This Caribbean Pearl Blue metallic DB5 with a red leather interior is a right-hand drive example that was sold new by Brooklands, of Bond Street, on April 7th of 1964, in the county of Somerset. It was registered as 478 YYC and those plates still accompany the vehicle. The original purchaser of the vehicle paid £4,249, in 1964.

This DB5 is a later 1964 build and was fitted with a five-speed transmission rather than the early four-speed, or four-speed with overdrive transmission. It also rides on knock-off wire wheels. The car resided in England for four or five years before being shipped to California. It remained there for two decades, gaining an 8-track tape player, which is still with the car.

The current owner purchased the car in 1987 and had it shipped to Seattle. A three-year restoration from the ground up began shortly after the acquisition. The total, in 1991, came to almost $60,000. Since the work has been completed, it has been kept in a heated garage in the San Juan Islands, in Washington State, and enjoyed on the weekends. Currently the odometer shows just over 50,000 miles.

In 2013, the car was offered for sale at RM Auction's sale in Scottsdale, Arizona. The lot was sold for the sum of $407,000 including buyer's commission.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible Coupe by Touring
Chassis number: DB5C/1290/L

This Aston Martin DB5 Convertible is one of only 32 left-hand drive DB5 Convertibles originally manufactured. It is Fiesta Red with tan leather interior piped red with black carpeting and black cloth convertible top. It has a 5-speed ZF transmission, rare factory hardtop, ex-King Hussein and only 37,000 original miles. It was fully restored between 2009 and 2010 by Autosport Designs, Inc. It is complete with all history and documents, original owner's handbook, factory tools and jack.

Coupe by Touring

Regarded by many as the most beautiful Aston Martin ever produced, the DB5 shares many similar features with the earlier DB4. The DB5's most substantial change occurred under the bonnet with the 6-cylinder engine size enlarged to 4 liters by increasing the bore to 96 mm. Significant too was the introduction of a full synchromesh ZF 5-speed gearbox. This original and unrestored example of the DB5 is finished in the archetypal James bond Silver Birch paintwork, a truly iconic British grand touring coupe.

Coupe by Touring
Chassis number: DB51455L

James Bond made his reputation in a silver-birch DB5 in Goldfinger (1964). The DB5 was a development of the David Brown DB 4 manufactured from 1963 to 1965 with just over 1,000 made. Under the bonnet is a Tadek Marek Straight 6-cylinder, twin cam with nearly 300 horsepower with guts and rasp enough to awaken the odd Ferrari. Coupled with a Carrozzeria Touring body design built to Anderloni's Superleggera patented technique, the DB 5 is truly a gorgeous grand touring car.

The current owner started cleaning this car as a teenager and bought it in 1983. Kevin Kay restored it to build sheet specs in 2005. This Saloon is one of 42 original Fiesta Red DB5s.

Convertible Coupe by Touring
Chassis number: DB5C/1295/R
Engine number: 400/1560

This DB5 Convertible is a matching numbers, manual transmission equipped car, specified as new for its home market as a right hand drive model. The car was delivered on April 24, 1964 through agent C. Williams to its first owner, J.A.L. Mould, Esq., of Warwickshire, UK. It has the optional 3.77:1 final drive Power Lok rear axle, and was given registration plate number '236 GDA'. It remained in the UK with this registration until 2013, which it was sold to its present US ownership.

The car left the factory finished in red over black Connolly trim, as it wears today. The car left the factory fitted with 'non-standard equipment' including two Marchal fog lamps, a Motorola radio with power-operated aerial, chrome wheels, twin Britax safety belts, and a full tonneau cover in black 5442 DH Everflex.

The DB5 Convertible was in the care of Mr. Michael Beresford-West. In his ownership, the car participated in the 1995 Louis Vuitton Concours d'Élegance at the Hurlingham Club, West London. The car was acquired from him in 2008 by its next owner via Nicholas Mee & Co., the London-based specialist Aston Martin Heritage dealer.

In 1995, the car was given a re-spray. Currently, the odometer shows just over 90,270 miles, which is believed to be original.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Touring
Chassis number: DB5/1612/L
Engine number: 400/1621

Aston Martin built 899 examples of the DB5 coupe, with 220 receiving left-hand drive. Of those, 193 were intended for United States delivery. This example was completed in June of 1964 and dispatched to car dealer Peter Satori of Pasadena, California. It left the factory finished in the color scheme of Sand over green Connolly leather and optioned with chrome wire wheels, a limited-slip differential, Normalair air-conditioning, and Armstrong Selectaride adjustable suspension. It also received a 2-inch spacer fitted to the steering column, allowing the steering wheel to be closer to the driver.

By the mid-1980s, the car had been refinished in its present color scheme and was offered for sale by The Fine Car Store in San Diego. By 1987 it was in the care of Dr. David Walden of Newport Beach, California. During his 30 years of ownership, the car added less than 1,000 miles to the odometer. It 2017, via a private collector, the Aston Martin passed to the current owner.

The car is currently finished in dark green metallic with black leather interior. The engine is a 3,995cc dual overhead cam Alloy inline 6-cylinder unit with three SU HD8 carburetors. It has a five-speed ZF manual gearbox and four-wheel Servo-assisted Girling Disc brakes.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Touring
Chassis number: DB5/1305/L
Engine number: 400/1258

The Aston Martin DB5 was introduced at the 1963 Earls Court Motor Show. It had similar Touring-designed coachwork to the DB4 and an enlarged 4-liter version of Tadek Marek's race-engineered aluminum engine. It was a superior driver's car thanks to 170 improvements over the preceding model. Its legacy and popularity skyrocketed after being featured in the 1965 James Bond film, Goldfinger. Built through 1965, a total of 1,021 examples were made.

This particular original examples has had nearly four decades of ownership by its current owner. Chassis number 1305/L was optioned from the factory with overdrive and a final-drive ratio of 3.77:1. It was given three-eared hubcaps over chrome wheels, and Ace number plates reading 'DB5 1964.' It was completed by the Aston Martin factory in October of 1963 and finished in Platinum (white) paint and trimmed with dark blue Vaumol leather from Connolly Brothers. According to its chassis number, it was the fifth saloon built.

It was sold through British Motor Car distributors in San Francisco and was one of the first to be sold on the West Coast. It was acquired new by the Washington Fruit and Produce Company of Yakima, Washington, on behalf of John Bloxom, the company's owner and manager. It was acquired in mid-June 1964 and often driven 120 miles each month to a related business division in Hood River, Oregon. It was sold in the mid-1970s and passed to one or two intermediaries over the next few years before becoming available for sale in 1981 in Sausalito, California. That is when the car entered the care of its current San Francisco owner and has been in his care for 38 years.

This Aston Martin has never been completely restored. It has been regularly maintained and received some cosmetic refurbishments along the way. The front seats have been reupholstered in Connolly leather, and the body was taken down to bare metal and repainted in lacquer, all in keeping with the proper original color scheme of Platinum over dark blue.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Touring
Chassis number: DB5/1486/R

When the Aston Martin Company was first approached by Eon Productions to supply them with a car for the film Goldfinger, they famously sold one at cost - not yet aware of the impact the film would have. A total of four cars were eventually built for the film and for promotional purposes. These cars boast more extras than virtually any Aston Martin on the road, but beneath the bling lies a standard road going DB5. Instantly recognizable from Timbuktu to the smallest island in the Pacific, this car is largely responsible for Aston Martin's success as one of the world's most exciting brands.

This is the only movie car left of the original two cars used in the movie Goldfinger and was driven by Sean Connery. The car is powered by a water-cooled double-overhead-cam 4-liter engine developing 282 horsepower coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission. Modifications for the movies such as the oil slick, smoke and revolving license all work.

Coupe by Touring
Chassis number: DB5/1690/R
Engine number: 400/1689

The Aston Martin DB5 was the successor to the DB4 and came equipped with a larger 4.0-liter engine with three SU carburetors and an increase in horsepower. Approximately 170 improvements, refinements, and upgrades were made and after the 50 or so DB5 examples were built, the ZF five-speed gearbox became standard. The DOHC aluminum engine architecture of the DB4 remained, along with four-wheel disc brakes, rack and pinion steering, and aluminum-alloy bodywork in the patented Superleggera (Super light) technique of Carrozzeria Touring.

This DB5 Coupe was delivered new on December 12, 1964, to Thomas Jones & Sons Ltd. in Liverpool, factory-finished in Silver Birch paint over Dark Blue Connolly leather upholstery. Optional equipment included a heated rear window, a Motorola radio with power aerial, and chrome road wheels. The original-type clutch was subsequently upgraded and the second owner of the DB5 was T.J.R. Lilley, Esq. of London.

This coupe remained in the United Kingdom until the early-to-mid 2000s when it was imported to California. In 2008, it was acquired by Neil Peart and was methodically and thoroughly serviced, maintained, and sorted by Aston Martin of Silicon Valley. Among the work performed, the engine was rebuilt to larger 4.2-liter specification in 2009 and new Borrani wire wheels were fitted.

This DB5 is currently finished in silver paint over black leather uphostlery.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Touring
Chassis number: DB5/1681/R
Engine number: 400/1666

This 1964 Aston Martin DB5 was owned by Sir Sean Connery, the actor who first played James Bond, agent 007. In the 1964 Bond film, Goldfinger, an Aston martin DB5 played a starring role.

Sir Sean's Aston Martin DB5 is devoid of the Q branch gadgets but has a five-speed manual transmission, Dunlop RS5 tires, a 3.77:1 Power Lok rear axle, and a Motorola radio with power-operated aerial. After leaving the factory, the DB5 was dispatched to Cyril Williams Motors of Wolverhampton to their local customer, Arthur White. The car was registered to Williams on July 8th of 1964, nearly a year after its arrival at Cyril Williams Motors, so it may have been used as a demonstrator. In May of 1966, the car was sold to Alan Simpson of Sutton Oldfield, then in 1969 to Lord Cranworth at Cotswold Park in Cirencester. MrLord Cranworth may have subsequently sold the Aston Martin to the Banham International Motor Museum of Norfolk. When the museum's collection was dispersed in 1982, the car was acquired by another British caretaker who retained it for over twenty years.

The Aston Martin DB5 later found its way to marque specialists, RS Williams, before being acquired by Sir Sean in early 2018. After entering Sir Sean's care, the car was refinished to Snow Shadow Grey (not SIlver Birch) - the same color as the prototype DB5 (essentially a modified DB4 Series V with covered headlights) used in the Goldfinger movie.

The car remained with Sir Sean's estate following his passing in 2020. This DB5, chassis number 1681/R, is the only example to have been owned by Sir Sean.

by Dan Vaughan

The DB5's were built from 1964 through 1965 during which 1021 examples were produced. They followed the success of the DB4's and featured similar body work as the 2 door, 4 seater Saloon. The DB name was derived from David Brown, an individual who had purchased the Aston Martin Company. The six cylinder engine was still standard. However, this Tadek Mereck designed straight six was now displacing 3995 cc and was capable of producing 282 horsepower. The Vantage option increased the output rating to 314 bhp. Most of the DB5s featured a new ZF five-speed transmission.

Unlike the DB4's, the DB5's were equipped with Electric windows and Selectaride type Armstrong Dampers. These were luxuries, but they also increased the weight of the vehicle and decreasing the overall performance. The zero-to-sixty time was 8.1 seconds with the top speed being in the neighborhood of 143 mph.

Just like the DB4's, the DB5's were available in convertible form. Twelve vehicles were built by Coachbuilder Harold Radford and designated the DB5 Shooting Brake.

The DB5 series will be remembered in history as having a staring role in the James Bond Film 'Gold Finger'.

by Dan Vaughan

The DB series was named after the head of Aston Martin from 1947 until 1972, David Brown. Debuted in 1963, the Aston Martin DB5 was the spicy replacement of the earlier DB4 model. The DB5 was available as a convertible or a sports saloon and was slightly heavier and longer than the DB4. Standard equipment on the DB5 included pile carpets, recling seats, a fire extinguisher and electric windows. All DB5 models had four seats and two doors and the sports saloon had a UK list price of £4,248 including purchase tax and the convertible was £4,562.

The Aston Martin DB5 weighted 3,310lb and could achieve 0-60mph in 7.1 seconds. Unfortunately the weight disadvantage was offset by the 4-liter version of the double overhead engine that produced 282 bhp. Early vehicles were fitted with a four speed gearbox, but came with the option of three-speed automatic, or even a five speed ZF manual unit. Eventually the five speed gearbox became standard equipment on all DB5 cars. Producing 282 bhp, the three SU carbs aided the car to reach to 145 mph.

A Vantage model was a higher performance variant of theDB5 that featured power output of 325bhp that eventually became the standard Aston Martin power unit with the launch in September of 1963. Only 65 DB5 Vantage coupes were ever produced. The DB5 was a low-slung coupe that looked sleek and glamorous enough to appear in movies. Compared to the previous model, the DB5 featured numerous improved that included an alternator instead of dynamo, electric windows as standard, and an improved exhaust system. Air conditioning was also available as an option.

One year after the car debuted, Sean Connery in his role of James Bond used the DB5 in the film Goldfinger. Transforming it into possibly the best known of all Aston Martin models, the DB5 definitely found its fame in the James Bond flick, but went on to also appear in Thunderball, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies and Casino Royale. Ian Fleming had originally placed Bond in a DB Mar III in the book, but the DV5 was the company's newest model when the film was being made. The vehicle in the film was the original DB5 prototype and another standard car used for stunts. After the film's release, two more modified vehicles were constructed for publicity tours. One of the vehicles was auctioned in Arizona in January of 2006 for $2,090,000.

Only 123 DB5 Vantage convertibles were produced though they never utilized the standard 'Volante' name. Only 19 out of the 123 DB5 convertible were left-hand drive and the convertible was only offered from 1963 through 1965.

Another very unique variant of the DB5 lineup was the shooting brake estate vehicle. Custom produced by the factory for David Brown, 12 more coupes were custom modified for Aston Martin by independent coachbuilder, Harold Radford. Unfortunately the station wagon featured no change to the rear suspension and drivers would find this out when the load in the rear shifted at high speed in a corner with ‘a resultant loss of control'.

Unfortunately the DB5 was replaced in 1965 by the DB6, the first four-seater produced by the Aston Martin family, after just over 1,000 cars were produced.

by Jessican Donaldson